2002 Cape Cod Eurovan

[60vwnewengland]

Hey folks, I’m looking at this 2002 Eurovan. The owner doesn’t have a price in mind, but it’s non-op. Had starting issues when parked. There’s a pile of paperwork in the van from 2016. New thermostat, alternator, brakes, crankshaft sensor, starter, and exhaust. I guess it was still leaving the current owner stranded…

I don’t know a lot about eurovans, but I’ve done enough work on all year buses and modern cars. Not sure what’s wrong with it.

The body looks to have typical cape cod crust. It’ll need new brake lines (hard and soft) brake parts, battery, ignition, trans and oil change. But what else should I look for? I couldn’t really see the underside, it’s a little snuck into the ground.

What should I offer to the seller to take this off her hands?

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77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
70 Beetle
71 Super Beetle
RIP TheWalrus (Big Jack) 1988-2024

[HeyCrutch]

As a comparison, last year I purchased a 2003 GLS that was in better shape than the one you're presenting in this post, but did have advertised transmission issues, for $1000. The seller had advertised it for $1500. I'm using it for parts.
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-2003 EV MV Wk - Forest - 51k
-2002 EV Camper - Ghost - 82k
-2003 EV GLS - Fluffhead - 176k

-1997 EVC - 12vVR6 (SOLD 5/2025)

[paddygarcia]

Not kidding: unless you need specific parts off that one they should pay you.

[Abscate]

That’s a pretty big green box of Charlie Foxtrots
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[VanGeek]

What you already know and can see is very significant. A lot of work and cost.
What you don't know and see is likely worse -- especially if it's been sitting in the mud.

Not sure if Paddy was joking or serious. But me thinks you should pay little or nothing for it, because a Eurovan MV tin top in excellent condition isn't worth a ton (under $10K?), and whoever takes-on this project has a lot of mechanical work and expense ahead -- likely body and rust as well.

[paddygarcia]

Very serious, for all of the concerns you expressed.

Enough water inside to rust the front seat base (!) and a coincidental mysterious electrical issue. Hmmm.

Obvious heavy rust bubbling in many places, meaning there's lots that we're not seeing. Piles of leaves that don't bode well for the fenders. I'm from the Northeast and not terribly afraid of rust but there's a whole lot of it here.

Shot headliner. Needs a full set of brake lines made, which is a lot of lines to make on one of these. And then there's the dice-roll on an unknown and untestable trans.

As a haul-away parts source it's worth some effort but IMO not any money. Get it running, test the trans and if you got lucky buy a nice one with a bad trans - they're out there.

[60vwnewengland]

I made a list of parts needed from Rockauto, tires, and miscellaneous, I'm estimating it’ll cost about $2500 at least to get it going down the road. That’s if there no hidden engine or transmission gremlins.

We’ll see. Going to bring a jack with me to try and get a better look at the underside before I make an offer.

Thanks for all the advice folks!
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77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
70 Beetle
71 Super Beetle
RIP TheWalrus (Big Jack) 1988-2024

[[email protected]]

My 2001 WKR spent much of its live on Cape Cod
There is rust everwear but not to bad, bubbles, some rotten parts.
Been going over it with POR 15 when I have pices off as I fixed it.
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2001 eurovn weekender 207k fresh batteries

[Glenn]

[60vwnewengland]

[EuroTec]

FWIW I would just walk away from that one.

If you feel inclined to take on a "project of unknowns" I wouldn't pay any more than $1K for that thing. You're in for more work than you think.

By the way, retired euro mechanic speaking here.
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If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[obnoxiousblue]

[SambaBurnsRed]

Salvage eg$500 ish.
Fuel system is likely gum, depending on how long it sat
Probably needs a trans rebuild too.
Heater core (they are biodegradable)

Lot of work but you get new parts

[jjvincent]

What I find is that people just park perfect Eurovans in the grass and then forget about them. There's nothing wrong, they just were busy doing other things and that Eurovan just got lost in the shuffle. So, it sounds like you just need to install a battery, fire it up, take it home, throw on some ceramic coat and you have a perfect vehicle.

Just so you know, parking vehicles over grass and especially in the NE, just preserves the undercarriage. Moisture is like it is for your skin, it keeps youth. All of this talk about rusted out undercarriages and brake lines is is bull hockey. It's perfect under where you can't see it. Just look at the shiny paint and that's automatically what they rest looks like.

Plus, never take it to a shop and have them throw it on a hoist to look at the undercarriage. They will tell you it's terrible. Yet those guys are itching for a Eurovan and will snatch it up for $100.

[samba415]

At first blush, I'm reminded of Sir Robin and "run away", but there are some great parts to harvest here. ESP/steering angle sensor is worth the purchase all by itself.
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Old stable: '63 Baja, '69 Square, '72 Bug, '65 & '67 Samba, '73 412 wagon & 2dr 4spd

Current: '04 Golf TDI, '03 Weekender

[60vwnewengland]

A little update, I offered $800. The seller shrugged, and made a comment about how it’s worth more than that. I handed her the recent CL and TS ads that list similar non-op eurovans at $1000. Then I gave her my RockAuto parts list that, new tires, etc. was about $3k and said, these are the parts I’d have to buy to get it going down the road. And told her in all honesty, these vans aren’t worth a lot. The owner shrugged it all off and said she needed to think about it. I told her, you have my number.

I’m not going to pursue, it does seems like a lot of work, not sure I’ll have the time to work on it.
_________________
77 Westy - Cape Cod Sage
70 Beetle
71 Super Beetle
RIP TheWalrus (Big Jack) 1988-2024

[jjvincent]